Heel boom construction

ABSTRACT

A heel boom construction for a log-handling apparatus, the construction comprising a hollow boom section and an arm telescopically mounted in the boom section and having a grapple at the outer end for the handling of logs. A heel bar provided at one end with a heel member applicable against the logs to be handled is mounted at the other end to the outer end of the arm for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm. A bracket fixed at the outer end of the boom section has a bearing and guiding block mounted thereon for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the axis of the boom section. The heel slidably extends through the bearing and guiding block.

United States Patent [191 in] 3,709,390

Tanguay 1 Jan. 9,1973

[54] HEEL BOOM CONSTRUCTION Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham [75] Inventor. ,gzlbellalgar'girlguay, Saint Prime, y y ARobic [73] Assignee: Placements Jean Paul Tangua y Ltee, [57] ABSTRACT St. Prime, Quebec, Canada a bearing and guiding block mounted thereon for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the axis of the boom section. The heel slidably extends through the bearing and guiding block.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9197a sum 1 OF 3 PATENTED JAN 9 I973 SHEET 3 OF 3 HEEL BOOM CONSTRUCTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling tree-length logs or the like elongated objects, particularly for feeding them into a tree slasher or simply for piling them or loading them into a transporting vehicle. More specifically, the invention pertains to a heel boom construction for such apparatus.

Apparatus of this general type presently exist of which the object is to lift the tree-length logs while grappling them by the base, at one end; the logs being displaced in a horizontal position. The logs lifted in this way have therefore their central gravity far beyond the grapple so that the existing apparatus must be provided with a heel means intended to counteract the movement created by the movement of the logs located beyond the grappling point, on the side thereof opposite the heel means. Obviously, lifting of tree logs in this manner would be impossible without the provision of the heel means. Of course, tree stems or the like could be lifted easily if gripped by their center of gravity but this is an entirely impractical solution in view of the length of the trees.

This is, however, one situation for which presently existing apparatus are ill-adapted. When the tree-handling operation takes place during a cold season and the logs are frozen on the ground, it is almost impossible to lift them straight up so that they must first be axially displaced so as to loosen them from the ice and snow that hold them captive. With presently existing devices, this can only be done by simultaneously operating three levers respectively actuating the main boom, the stick or middle boom and the heel boom, the latter carrying the grapple. This is obviously a very awkward way of obtaining axial displacement of the logs.

I have invented a new construction capable of avoiding this inconvenience and wherein the one and only operating lever that need be manipulated in order to cause axial displacement of the logs is the lever capable of reducing the reach of my apparatus thereby causing the grapple to shift the logs axially.

More specifically, this result can be obtained with the apparatus of my invention comprising a heel boom construction including a heel boom section and an arm telescopically mounted in the boom section and having a grapple at the outer end for the handling of logs. A heel bar, provided at one end with a heel member applicable against the logs to be handled, is mounted at the other end to the outer end of the arm for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm. A bearing and guiding means is provided at the outer end of the boom section, the heel bar slidably extending through the bearing and guiding means. By this construction, telescopic motion of the arm toward the boom section causes an axial displacement of the logs so that the latter may be freed from the ice.

I believe that further objects and advantages of the invention as well as a better understanding thereof will be afforded by the description that follows of a preferred embodiment having reference to the ap' pended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a prospective view ofa heel boom construction made according to the teaching of my invention, the construction being shown mounted on a conventional loader;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the boom construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view and,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view intended toshow the construction in two different positions.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a boom assembly 1 mounted on a truck 3 or the like vehicle through the agency of a capstan 5. In the example shown, the assembly is composed of a main boom 7 and a heel boom 9 pivoted to one another by means of a pin 1 1 held tight by a washer and nut assembly 11' (FIG. 2). Heel boom 9 is part of the boom construction of my invention which is described more fully hereinafter. Main boom 7 is pivoted to the capstan 5 and booms 7 and 9 may be moved relative to one another and to the truck 3 by means of conventional power rams 13, 15 in the form of hydraulic cylinders.

Hydraulic lines and appertaining equipment, for the operation of the above rams and for those hereinafter described, have been omitted from the drawings for the sake of simplicity and clarity. These are conventional and their conception will come readily to the man of the art.

The heel boom construction according to this embodiment broadly comprises the previously mentioned boom section 9 in the form of an elongated open-ended square element hollowed out at one end to telescopically receive an arm 17 projecting; out of the saidend. A power ram 19 interconnects the boom section 9 and the arm 17 to cause retraction and extraction of the latter into and out of the boom section 9. Algrapple 21 of conventional design is connected at the outer end of the arm 17 so as to be able to swivel about a vertical axis and is of course adapted to grapple tree-length logs 23 or the like elongated objects. A round heel bar 25, having a heel member 27 at one end applicable against the logs 23, is mounted at the other end to the outer end of the arm 17 for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm and behind the grapple 21 with respect to the open end of the boom section 9. Finally, the heel bar 25 extends slidably through a bearing and guiding means 28 to be guided thereby during telescoping movement of the arm 17. a

As best shown in FIG. 2, the bearing in guiding means 28 comprises a bracket in the form of a pair of spaced plates 31 fixedly secured, as by welding, on either side of the square boom section 9. The bracket extends downwardly away from the boom section 9 in the direction of the grapple 21, that is on the same side of the boom section 9. A bearing member 29, in the form of a square block having a through bore 33, is mounted at the free end of the bracket 31 to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boom section 9, the heel boom 25 slidably extending through the bore 33; Obviously, the heel boom 25 and the bearing block bore 33 could have a square cut section.

The grapple 21 and the heel bar 25 are mounted on the outer end of the arm 17 through the agency of a support made up of two spaced plates 35, generally triangular in shape and secured as by welding on either side of the square arm 17. The head 37 of the heel bar 25 and the grapple 21 are respectively mounted on pins 39, 41 located between the bracket plates 35 so as to be pivotable about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm 17. The grapple 21 may also be mounted on a second pivot pin 43 (FIG. 1) at right angle to pin 45 so that pins 41 and 43 form a universal joint for the suspension of the grapple. As mentioned previously, the grapple 21 may also swivel about the vertical axis independently of the pins 41, 43. Pins 39, 41 may be locked in position by means of the nut and washer assemblies 39', 41'. It will be noted that the pivotal axis of the heel bar to the support 35 lies between the arm 17 and the bearing block 29.

The support plates 35 project a small distance above the arm 17 and a pin 45 is mounted between the plates 35 to serve as a shaft for the fixing of the piston rod 47 of the hydraulic ram 19, the pin 45 being locked in position by a nut and washer assembly 45'. The cylinder 49 of the ram 19 is likewise mounted on a pin assembly 51, 51' fixed to a bracket 53 secured to the top of the heel boom section 9.

The square arm 17 is preferably made of a cross-section smaller than the inner cross-section of the hollowed out boom section 9 so as to loosely fit therein. Guiding of the arm 17 is insured by a pair of rollers 55, at the inner end thereof; the diameter being selected so as to afford a snug fit in the section 9. Likewise, and as best illustrated in FIG. 3, the bracket formed by plates 31 may be provided with similar rollers 57 disposed above and below the outlet of the boom section 9 to serve as guides for the arm 17 in its reciprocating motion.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the heel member 27 is generally triangular in shape and fixed to the free end of the heel bar 25 by a screw 59, for instance; member 27 extending perpendicularly to the bar 25.

A pin 61 and nut and washer assembly 61 extend through a bracket 63 and serve for the pivotal-support of the piston rod of the hydraulic ram 13.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be appreciated that a tree stem 23 may be lifted from the horizontal position and steeply inclined simply by retracting the arm 17 into the hollowed out boom 9. It is indeed often convenient and even necessary to steeply incline the tree logs or stems in order to avoid obstacles. Furthermore, it will be understood that, at the beginning of the retracting movement, the tree stem moves mostly axially, which movement releases it from the ice that may have formed around it. This movement is possible, it will be noted, without actuation of the heel boom section 9 and the main boom 7, relatively to one another.

It may also be pointed out that shortening of the heel boom 9 correspondingly reduces the overturning torque of the loader. This is not the case with similar known loaders where the grapple does not move in this manner with respect to the loading boom. Consequently, it may be expected that a loader according to the invention may reach out as far as a known loader of corresponding type and size but advantageously can have its overturning torque reduced by withdrawing the arm 17 within the boom cylinder 9.

FIG. 4 purports to illustrate that the heel boom construction of my invention may be used with the heel member 27 out of service simply by bending the heel boom section 9 downwardly, in respect to the main boom 7, sufficiently to allow the grapple 21 complete freedom of action. The grapple, which can swivel about a vertical axis as foresaid, may then be used for moving tree logs on the ground, as is sometimes necessary. It may also align the logs so that they may thereafter be lifted from the ground with the help of the heel member 27, as shown in dotted lines.

lclaim:

l. A heel boom construction for a log-handling apparatus, said construction comprising:

a. an elongated boom section;

b. an arm coaxial with said boom section; said arm and boom section being interconnected for telescopic motion therebetween;

c. power means to cause said telescopic motion;

. a grapple connected at the outer end of said arm to grapple logs to be handled;

e. a heel bar mounted at one end to the outer end of said arm for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said arm; said heel bar being mounted behind said grapple with respect to the outer end of said boom section;

f. a heel mounted at the other end of said bar to be applied against the logs to be handled, and

g. bearing and guiding means at the outer end of said boom section, said heel bar slidably extending through said means to be guided thereby during telescoping motion of said arm.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said boom section is hollowed out and is opened at one end thereof, said arm is telescopically mounted in said boom section to project from said open end and said power means interconnects said boom section and said arm to cause retraction and extraction of said arm into and out of said boom section.

3. A construction is claimed in claim 2 wherein said bearing and guiding means comprises a bracket fixed at one end to said boom section and extending downwardly away therefrom in the direction of said grapple; a bearing member mounted at the free end of said bracket to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said boom section, said heel bar slidably extending through said bearing member.

4. A construction is claimed in claim 3 wherein said power means is a hydraulic ram.

5. A construction is claimed in claim 3 including a support fixed to the outer end of said arm and having a portion projecting downwardly from said arm, said grapple and said heel bar being mounted on said support.

6. A construction is claimed in claim 5 wherein the pivotal axis of said heel bar on said support lies between said arm and the pivotal axis of said bearing member on said bracket.

7. A construction is claimed in claim 5 wherein said support has a portion projecting upwardly from said arm and wherein said power means is a hydraulic ram of which the cylinder has the free end thereof fixed to said arm and of which the piston rod has the free end thereof fixed to said upwardly projecting support portion.

8. A construction is claimed in claim 5 wherein said arm is loosely mounted in said hollowed out boom section and rollers are provided at the inward end thereof to guide its telescopic motion inside said boom section.

9. A construction is claimed in claim 8 wherein said bracket is formed of a pair of plates each secured on one side of said boom section, said rollers being handling of logs; a heel bar provided at one end with a heel member applicable against the logs to be handled and mounted at the other end to the outer end of the arm for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm, and a bearing and guiding means at the outer end of the boom section, the heel bar slidably extending through the bearing and guiding means. 

1. A heel boom construction for a log-handling apparatus, said construction comprising: a. an elongated boom section; b. an arm coaxial with said boom section; said arm and boom section being interconnected for telescopic motion therebetween; c. power means to cause said telescopic motion; d. a grapple connected at the outer end of said arm to grapple logs to be handled; e. a heel bar mounted at one end to the outer end of said arm for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said arm; said heel bar being mounted behind sAid grapple with respect to the outer end of said boom section; f. a heel mounted at the other end of said bar to be applied against the logs to be handled, and g. bearing and guiding means at the outer end of said boom section, said heel bar slidably extending through said means to be guided thereby during telescoping motion of said arm.
 2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said boom section is hollowed out and is opened at one end thereof, said arm is telescopically mounted in said boom section to project from said open end and said power means interconnects said boom section and said arm to cause retraction and extraction of said arm into and out of said boom section.
 3. A construction is claimed in claim 2 wherein said bearing and guiding means comprises a bracket fixed at one end to said boom section and extending downwardly away therefrom in the direction of said grapple; a bearing member mounted at the free end of said bracket to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said boom section, said heel bar slidably extending through said bearing member.
 4. A construction is claimed in claim 3 wherein said power means is a hydraulic ram.
 5. A construction is claimed in claim 3 including a support fixed to the outer end of said arm and having a portion projecting downwardly from said arm, said grapple and said heel bar being mounted on said support.
 6. A construction is claimed in claim 5 wherein the pivotal axis of said heel bar on said support lies between said arm and the pivotal axis of said bearing member on said bracket.
 7. A construction is claimed in claim 5 wherein said support has a portion projecting upwardly from said arm and wherein said power means is a hydraulic ram of which the cylinder has the free end thereof fixed to said arm and of which the piston rod has the free end thereof fixed to said upwardly projecting support portion.
 8. A construction is claimed in claim 5 wherein said arm is loosely mounted in said hollowed out boom section and rollers are provided at the inward end thereof to guide its telescopic motion inside said boom section.
 9. A construction is claimed in claim 8 wherein said bracket is formed of a pair of plates each secured on one side of said boom section, said rollers being mounted for rotation about axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of said boom section and disposed on opposite sides of said arm to serve as guides therefore.
 10. A construction is claimed in claim 3 wherein said heel member is V-shaped and is fixed to said heel bar to extend transversely thereof.
 11. A heel boom construction for a log-handling apparatus, said construction comprising: a hollow boom section and an arm telescopically mounted in the boom section and having a grapple at the outer end for the handling of logs; a heel bar provided at one end with a heel member applicable against the logs to be handled and mounted at the other end to the outer end of the arm for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm, and a bearing and guiding means at the outer end of the boom section, the heel bar slidably extending through the bearing and guiding means. 